Peak Moments Draw Unprecedented Crowds (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Seattle’s commanding 29-13 win over New England in Super Bowl 60 drew 124.9 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, NBC Sports Digital, and NFL+, marking a slight decline from the previous year’s audience.
Peak Moments Draw Unprecedented Crowds
A staggering 137.8 million viewers tuned in during the second quarter from 7:45 to 8 p.m. Eastern, establishing a new U.S. record for peak Super Bowl audience and edging out last year’s mark of 137.7 million.
This peak highlighted sustained interest despite the game’s lack of drama. Seattle led 12-0 entering the fourth quarter, the second time in Super Bowl history no touchdown occurred in the first three quarters. The contest broke a four-year streak of rising viewership averages, though it marked the fifth consecutive Super Bowl surpassing 100 million viewers overall. Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel system captured these figures, underscoring the event’s enduring pull.
Bad Bunny Halftime Ranks Among All-Time Greats
Bad Bunny’s performance from 8:15 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern averaged 128.2 million viewers, securing fourth place on the list of most-watched halftime shows.
It trailed Kendrick Lamar’s 133.5 million in 2025, Michael Jackson’s 133.4 million from 1993, and Usher’s 129.3 million in 2024. Social media engagement exploded with 4 billion views in the first 24 hours, a 137% jump from last year, according to NFL and Ripple Analytics data. Over 55% of those views originated from international markets. Meanwhile, the Turning Point USA alternate halftime featuring Kid Rock peaked at 5 million on YouTube, with total views reaching 21.2 million by Tuesday night, far below Bad Bunny’s 61.3 million.
Telemundo Sets Spanish-Language Benchmarks
Telemundo’s coverage averaged 3.3 million viewers, the highest ever for a Spanish-language Super Bowl broadcast in the U.S. since 2014.
The halftime segment peaked at 4.8 million, another record for Spanish audiences. This surge reflected growing appeal among Hispanic viewers. Full global halftime figures were slated for release early the following week.
NFL Momentum Boosts Olympics and Playoffs
NBC’s post-game “Primetime in Milan” Olympic coverage averaged 42 million viewers, the network’s strongest Winter Olympics audience since Day 2 of the 2014 Sochi Games and a 73% increase from the prior Super Bowl lead-in.
NBC Sports President Rick Cordella noted the Super Bowl’s role in amplifying Olympic viewership. The NFL playoffs drew 37 million viewers over the first three weekends, up 5% year-over-year and the second-best in a decade. Regular season averages hit 18.7 million, a 10% rise and the second-highest since 1988. Super Bowl 60 also became NBC’s most-watched program ever during its 100th anniversary year.
| Category | Super Bowl 60 | Super Bowl 59 |
|---|---|---|
| Average Viewers | 124.9 million | 127.7 million |
| Peak Viewers | 137.8 million | 137.7 million |
| Halftime Average | 128.2 million | N/A (Usher: 129.3M) |
Key Takeaways:
- Super Bowl 60 set a peak audience record despite a 2.2% dip in average viewership.
- Bad Bunny’s halftime dominated social media with 4 billion views globally.
- NFL trends remain robust, fueling adjacent events like Olympics coverage.
While excitement waned on the field, Super Bowl 60’s numbers affirmed television’s premier event status, blending tradition with fresh cultural moments. What aspects of the broadcast stood out most to you? Share in the comments.
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